I wish I was a plumber!

[Paul Barker]

OP

BIG MISTAKE. Mark my words now or find out the hard way. we have been and continue to be raped a pillaged by government, training organisations and certifying bodies, it's gone too far now to recover from, a host of etablished businesses will go bust and there will be a huge skill shortage. The public will continue to end up with dodgy jobs at top whack.

About the most successful attempt in history to make extinct a skilled workforce.

Success to the upper middle class politicians with good pension schemes, they have got rid of the enemy and imported a cheap manual workforce so they can buy more Jaguars..

I did a recent scan of the job market (because this move was a big mistake) and was shocked to learn that a tlephonist at our local hospital or a theatre porter not onl earn more thn I do now, but more than I did whn I was a paediatric nurse.

The job market is totally unfair.

I can advise you of a couple of jobs where the remuneation is unfair, one is nirsing the other is corgi registered gas fitting. So far the bet job looks like hospital switchboard.

 

[Paul Barker]

If you do ignore this advice the best thing you ca do it obtain skill at fitting bathrooms and get a contract with Dolphin or someone like that.

The key tosuccess is keeping it simple, staying as far removed as possible from all areas of the trade which are regulated, require additional training and equipment and callibration and notifiction and memberships.

Do not envy the corgi registered.

If it were not for the fact that I have developed a small amount of ability to repair combis where others prefer to sell a new boiler, I would have no job satisfaction left. It really rewards me to get a reslt and also to save the person perhaps for another year from the major modern capital cost of the luxury of heating. I warn them to start a heating fund or plan to downsize to an era before central heating was an expected standard.

 

[WelshMan]

Well i goto say i really didnt expect this response. Well i can certainly understand the cut throat market you operate in i really didnt know how difficult a time you guys have. I must confess i am really considering my immediate future is this area . As you have already pointed out the standard of workmanship of some of the so called " plumbers " is shocking. A mate had his new bathroom installed for £300 recently in and out in a day. I went to take a loot at it last weekend and its truly shocking workmanship ( and i am only a trainee). Incorrect sized pipework for the bath, pipes half way up the wall to name a few. While i do not expect to earn a fortune, i would want to earn a liveable wage, seem this might not be the case.

 

[roach]

Hey Welshman,

Try and not let the opinions of just a few blokes put you off. For every post I read on an internet forum saying that plumbing is rubbish and we've missed the boat there's another post saying that it's the best thing they've ever done etc. If this is something you really want to do then go for it. I'm still deciding whether to or not...

Where are you studying full time?

 

[oilman]

.......... For every post I read on an internet forum saying that plumbing is rubbish and we've missed the boat there's another post saying that it's the best thing they've ever done etc. .............

They may have had a very sad previous existence, or they may be running a training school.

 

[roach]

It depends on each persons current situation and as you say also previous experiences. If someone is currently unhappy with their career then whatever they choose to do can be viewed as a positive step if it involves learning new skills and meeting new people/making connections.

Life is but a journey is it not? Even if you trained as a plumber but used it as a stepping stone to something else such as kitchen/bathroom fitting, air conditioning etc then why not?

Surely the worst thing would be sit on your arse wondering what to do next but doing nothing!

 

[corgiman]

It depends on each persons current situation and as you say also previous experiences. If someone is currently unhappy with their career then whatever they choose to do can be viewed as a positive step if it involves learning new skills and meeting new people/making connections.

Life is but a journey is it not? Even if you trained as a plumber but used it as a stepping stone to something else such as kitchen/bathroom fitting, air conditioning etc then why not?

Surely the worst thing would be sit on your a**e wondering what to do next but doing nothing!

Yes once your in and trained up and can do all that is throw at you it isnt a bad life

its the getting to this enviable position that is the swine also getting paid to do this training is a thing of the past.

 

[chrisbyrd]

why all this training? there's only 2 things you need to know to be a plumber?

sh1t flows downhill and pay-day's friday

 

[Agile]

To reinforce Paul's comments I will outline four situations I have experienced during the last 48 hours.

Went to assess repairs on a boiler which others had quoted £350 to fix. I advised we charge a diagnostic charge. Found pump failed and so fitted a recovered pump to get it going.

Owner's brother then said tenant was not paying rent so I would not be getting paid for our visit or for pump!

Another lady wanted us to repair her old boiler. When I explained our fixed price diagnostic charge she said she thought we gave free estimates. I explained that we did but only over the phone and I had already done that for her. She then did not want us to go. Presumable she wanted us to diagnose the fault free and then fix it herself.

Another today wanted us to come and replace a part on her boiler. When I pointed out the diverter was probably about £100 she said thats too much for her and she would wait for her brother to come down at the weekend from the north as that would only be £40 of petrol. I reminded her that he was unlikely to have the part with him and he would still have to buy it anyway!

Just now I received a request for a Landlords Gas Certificate. We could not do this for her because she wanted it to be BACKDATED !!! I am sure someone else will though! High standards of honesty and technical competence dont suit everyone!

Tony

 

[WelshMan]

Studying at Coleg Morgannwg Aberdare roach fyi. Tutor is great, relaxed and more than happy to help with any queries you may have. Guys in the workshop are great too, all in all happy to have studied here .


Finished my lead today and i goto say to date its the most rewarding module we have coverd. There specialist further training in this area?.

 

[EliteHeat]

Finished my lead today and i goto say to date its the most rewarding module we have coverd.

Shame that you'll never need to do again then!

 

[roach]

Funnily enough that's the college I am thinking of going to in september if I don't get any luck finding someone to take me on in the next few months.

Some positive comments here if you go to the end of the thread.

 

[Nige F]

Finished my lead today and i goto say to date its the most rewarding module we have coverd.

Shame that you'll never need to do again then!

Far Canal.......you likee lead shame you`re not in E. Sussex........there`s a firm of plumbers/leadworkers crying out for people.......you and me are in a minority of 2 on this forum

 

[WelshMan]

Told my tutor i enjoyed the lead, cant really repeat what he said though . Told me his dad enjoyed it also, must be a age thing !!!!!!

 

[Balenza]

Plumbings a doddle.
Dont see why you need qualifications to do it.
There must be a lot of career changers out there with a severe lack of intellligence.